Interim Head of Global Talent Acquisition

Interim Head of Global Talent Acquisition 

Location: Global

Duration: 12 months

Coats is a world leader in thread manufacturing and structural components for apparel and footwear, as well as an innovative pioneer in performance materials. These critical solutions are used to create a wide range of products, including ones that provide safety and protection for people, data and the environment.

Trusted by the world's leading companies to deliver crucial, innovative, and sustainable solutions, we provide value-adding products including apparel, footwear and speciality threads.

With a proud heritage dating back more than 250 years and a spirit of evolution to constantly stay ahead of changing market needs, we have operations across 50 countries with a workforce of over 17,000, serving our customers worldwide.

Role Purpose:

The Head of Global Talent Acquisition plays a pivotal role in shaping and leading Coats’ global recruitment strategy and operations. Reporting directly to the Global Head of Talent, this position is responsible for designing and executing comprehensive talent acquisition strategies that attract, engage, and retain top talent across diverse geographies and functional areas. In addition, the role leads the recruitment of all senior-level positions across Coats, ensuring a consistent, high‑quality hiring experience and strong alignment with the company’s strategic workforce needs.

What you will do (Key Responsibilities): 

Strategic Planning:

• Develop and execute a forward‑looking global talent acquisition strategy that anticipates future capability needs and aligns with overall business objectives.
• Partner closely with senior leadership to forecast critical talent requirements, particularly for senior and specialist roles across all functions.
• Identify emerging trends, workforce shifts, and innovative recruitment practices to keep Coats competitive in securing future-ready talent.

Recruitment Operations:

• Provide strategic and operational support to divisional and country talent acquisition teams, ensuring alignment and consistency across global hiring efforts.
• Oversee end‑to‑end recruitment for senior leadership and critical capability roles, ensuring efficient, compliant, and high‑quality selection processes.
• Implement and interpret recruitment metrics, analytics, and insights to enhance performance, support decision-making, and drive continuous improvement.

Employer Branding and Candidate Experience:

• Strengthen and articulate Coats’ employer value proposition to attract senior talent and emerging future capabilities globally.
• Ensure an exceptional candidate experience at all touchpoints, with particular focus on the senior talent journey, from engagement and assessment through onboarding.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI):

• Champion DEI within the talent acquisition ecosystem, ensuring future capabilities and leadership pipelines reflect diverse perspectives and experiences.
• Collaborate with internal partners to build strategies that expand diverse senior talent pools and improve representation across all levels.
• Embed equitable and bias‑mitigating practices throughout senior-level hiring and selection processes.

Vendor Management and Technology Integration:

• Evaluate and manage relationships with external recruitment agencies, job boards, and other talent acquisition vendors.
• Identify and implement innovative recruitment technologies and tools to streamline processes, enhance candidate experience, and drive efficiencies. Align all search requirements across the Coats world to ensure using economy of scales in searches
• Stay informed on evolving HR technology, talent intelligence, and market trends to ensure Coats remains at the forefront of recruitment innovation.

Who you are (Requirements):

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related discipline
• Exceptional English communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage effectively with senior stakeholders across regions.

Experience:

• 7+ years of progressive experience in senior talent acquisition roles with global scope, ideally within a multinational organization or advisory/consulting environment.
• Proven track record in hiring senior leaders and critical future‑capability roles across diverse functions and geographies.
• Demonstrated experience driving DEI outcomes within the recruitment lifecycle and shaping inclusive, equitable hiring practices.

Skills:

• Strong leadership with the ability to inspire and develop high‑performing global teams.
• Deep understanding of global talent trends, talent intelligence, and regional compliance.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills, effective with senior and C‑suite leaders.
• Strategic, analytical thinker able to translate business needs into future‑focused hiring strategies.
• Skilled in using recruitment technologies, analytics, and CRM/ATS tools for data‑driven decisions.
• Able to balance strategic direction with hands‑on execution, especially for senior and critical hires.

What will set you apart (Nice to Have):

• Master University degree
• Experience in using ERP (SAP system)

At Coats Group, we are committed to innovation, excellence, and fostering a diverse and collaborative environment where every team member can thrive. If you are passionate about making an impact in the textile industry and eager to join a global leader with a rich heritage and a forward-thinking approach, we invite you to take the next step in your career with us.

Apply now to be part of our dynamic team and help shape the future of textiles.